Today, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Judge Andrew Hanen declined to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. In his ruling, Judge Hanen acknowledged that ending the program would not be in the best interest of the public and noted that the plaintiff states took too long in filing their lawsuit.

This ruling follows three other federal courts’ orders to continue accepting DACA renewals. For now, eligible DACA recipients can continue to renew their status, but still remain in limbo as Congress fails to find a solution that protects this generation of immigrants from the dangerous agenda of the Trump administration. As these lawsuits continue to wind their way through the courts, the ultimate fate of the DACA program remains uncertain.

“Judge Hanen’s ruling is only a temporary reprieve to a crisis created by the Trump administration’s termination of the highly successful DACA program. Judge Hanen signaled he may invalidate the program at a later date, making it all the more urgent that Congress act to protect a generation of immigrants from deportation, as people across the political spectrum have repeatedly demanded. After living under the specter of deportation for more than a year, the 780,000 individuals who have benefited from DACA deserve the stability and clarity that only a clean, compassionate, permanent legislative solution would provide.

“A permanent legislative solution—one that does not further criminalize our immigrant communities or eliminate critical family immigration programs—must be found. To continue to treat the lives of immigrants and their families like political bargaining chips is senseless and cruel. Through the DACA program, nearly a million recipients have invigorated communities, institutions of higher learning, and the economy as a whole. Employers, teachers, taxpayers, and families have all benefited from the full inclusion of DACA recipients in society and it’s time for Congress to stand up for them without exacting a price.”

The ILRC urges eligible DACA recipients to apply for renewal as soon as possible. We encourage legal practitioners serving these beneficiaries to review our DACA Practice Advisory Update for recommendations on what to tell clients, factors to consider in deciding when and if to renew DACA, and ideas for what people should do now even if they have never had DACA.

The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is a national nonprofit that works with immigrants, community organizations, legal professionals, and policy makers to build a democratic society that values diversity and the rights of all people. Through community education programs, legal training & technical assistance, and policy development & advocacy, the ILRC’s mission is to protect and defend the fundamental rights of immigrant families and communities.www.ilrc.org